Mattress



Oct. 22, 1929.v

P. TUFENKJIAN MATTREss Y 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 8. 1928 ATTORNEY Oct. 22, 1929. 4F. TUFENKJIAN MATTRESS Filed oct. 8. 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Pz' @ma INVENTOR ATTORNEY lha i www -Patented Oct. 22, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PHILIP TUFENKJ'IAN, 0F BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS MATTRESS p Applicationy mea october s, 192s. serial no. 311,123.

This invention relates to improvements in pneumatic mattresses, cushions and the like, the general object of the invention being to provide a plurality of tubes in the body of the device, with means for inflating the tubes, so that when the tubes are inflated, the body of the device will be expanded and thus form a pneumatic mattress or cushion which will resiliently support'the user so that he can rest upon the same with greatcomfort.

`Another object of the invention is to provide clamping means for the ends of the tubes and for connecting lthe tubes withpart of the mattress or cushion, with means whereby ac- 16 cess can be had to the valve stems of the tubes to enable the tubes to be inflated or deflated.

" This invention. also consists in certain other featureso'f construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several 20X parts, to be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in. the accompanying drawings and specilically pointed out in the appended claim.

In describing the invention in detail, reference will be hadto the accompanying -drawingswherein like characters denote l1ke or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which s iFigure 1 is a plan view of 'a mattress or cushion, with parts broken away to show the 3o interior construction. l

Figure 2 is a plan view with portions of the covers removed and parts broken away to show the interior construction. y

Figure 3 is a'section on line 3 3 of Fig- Figure 4 is a-section on linev 4 4 of Figure 1. f

i Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional view .through one end of 'the device.

40 Figure 6 is a detail view showing the clamping members.

Figure 7 is an end view of the device.

As shown in these views, I provide a plurality of tubes l'formed of rubber -or other resilientr material, these tubes being held in spaced relation by a cover 2 which is formed with the casings 3 to receive the tubes, the portions of the cover between the casing forming the strips 4 which are centrally arranged with respect to the tubes when thetubes are inflated. A pair of angle-shaped bars 5 is used to clam the ends of the tubes at-each end of the device, these bars acting to close the\ends of the tubes in an airtight manner and also to connect the tubes together in spaced relation. One bar of e'ach pair fits in the other ybar, with the ends of the-tubes between them,

as shown in Figures 4 5`and 6 and bolts 7 pass through the bars to hold them in clamping position. The ends of the cover 2 also pass between the bars, with the lower ends extending downwardly and inwardly and. fastened to a second covering 8, as shown at 9. yThe upper ends of the cover 2 pass upwardly and inwardly, with one endfastened to the covering 8 and the other enddetachably fastened to said covering 8 by the snap fasteners 10, this latter end and covering enclosing the valvesterns 11, of ordinary construction, and one of which is placed in each tube adjacent one end thereof. Thus by detaching the fasteners 10, access can be had to the valve stems so as to inflate or deflate the tubes. As will be seen, these' valve stems lie in a pocket formed by the inflated ends of the tubes and the vertical flanges of the clamping bar.

A n outer or main covering 12 is placed over the entire device, one end of this covering 12 being open so that the rest of the device can be placed therein and the edges so forming the opening are connected together by the snap fasteners 13.

Thus it will Ibe seen that` I have provided a pneumatic mattress or cushion, the air contalnmg portions of Vwhich are formed of 86- tubes spaced apart and provided with independent means for inflating them. Thus a pneumatic cushion is formed, only portions of which contain air, though it will be seen that when the tubes are inflated, air chambers 14 are formed between the tubes and portionsv of the coverings which also act as resilient supporting means. This mattressi or cushion will yieldingly support the user so that he can lie upon theY mattress or rest upon the cushion with great comfort.

By making the pneumatic means separate, if one or more should become damaged, the remaining ones would still hold the device inflated and some of the means can be inl Hated to a greater extent than the other means so that the cushion or mattress can be made to assume different shapes, when in use.

If desired, the end 9 of the covering 2 need not be attached to the covering 8 atpthe end of the cushion opposite to that end which carries the valve stems. This arrangement is shown in Figures 4 and 5.

It is thought rfrom the foregoing description that the advantages and novel features of the invention wiil be readilv apparent.

It is to be understood that changes may be made in the construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several arts, provided that such changes fall with- 1n the scope of the appended claim.

What I claim is L- A mattress or cushion of the class described comprising a covering formed with a plurality of spaced casings, an inflatable tubeI in each` casing, two pairs of clamping bars, each pair actin to close'the ends of the tubes at one end of t e device and for closing each end of the covering, the ends of the tubes and the tvgvo parts ofthe casing passing between the bars of each pair, said hars being of angle shape in cross section, a valve stern adjacent one end of each tube, a covering enclosing the parts and having an opening therein for exposing the stems, said last mentioned coverving forming spaces where it passes over the bars, withthe stems in one of said spaces, detachable means 'for closing the opening, an outer covering having an opening therein through which the parts are introduced thereinto and detachable' means for closing said opening.

In testimony whereof I aix my signature.

PHILIP TUFENK IAN. 

